beyond beaces

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BeyondBeaches5/17/ 2009

DTTEHM/ 08/ 06

By: Asfaq Mohamed


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Index

Introduction Page 03

Tourist Attractions in Sri Lanka Page 04

National Parks and Wildlife Reserves Page 04

Cultural Triangle Page 05

Hill Country Page 06

Eco Tourism in Sri Lanka Page 06

Aquatic Life in Sri Lanka Page 07

Tourist Activities in Sri Lanka Page 08

Paragliding in Sri Lanka Page 08

Rock Climbing in Sri Lanka Page 08

White Water Rafting in Sri Lanka Page 09Ayurveda Page 09

Conclusion Page 10

Reference Page 11

By Asfaq Mohamed Page 2


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Introduction

Sri Lanka is an island country with a rich cultural heritage, diverselandscapes, and a significant number of wildlife reserves. Increasing touristactivities are perceived as a means to bring in much-needed foreign exchange to

improve the quality of life of local people. After decade of decline due to ethnicunrest, tourist activities in Sri Lanka have shown promising signs of recovery.Today, tourism is the second fourth largest foreign exchange earner in Sri Lankaand contributes significantly to the economic growth and development of thisisland country. Sri Lankas diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage presenta wide range of tourism opportunities, ranging from sun and beach holidays,wildlife excursions, and cultural tours. Generally, Sri Lankas tourism resourcesare relatively under exploited. Although sun and beach tourism remains themain attraction for most foreign visitors, alternative tourism (i.e. ecotourism,nature tourism, and cultural/heritage tourism) on a smaller scale has beenpromoted as a sustainable alternative to avoid the negative social, economic,

and environmental impacts often associated with mass tourism development.

Sri Lanka is a tropical country with distinct dry and wet seasons. Theisland has two monsoon seasons: the southwest monsoon lasts from late May tolate September and the northeast monsoon affects the northeast coasts fromDecember to March. In the lowlands, the climate is generally humid with anaverage temperature of 27C. At a higher altitude, however, the central hillcountry enjoys a mild and pleasant climate with a temperature ranging from 10-16C. This climate is essential to support Sri Lankas renowned tea plantations.The nation, formerly known as Ceylon, was colonized by the Portuguese, Dutchand British, before achieving full independence as a dominion within the BritishCommonwealth in 1948. Today, colonial remnants can still be found in citiessuch as Kandy and Galle. The population of Sri Lanka is over 19 million.Although Sri Lanka has a diverse ethnic and religious mix (Buddhist, Hindu,Muslim, and Christian Burgher), the countrys architecture, sculpture, andpainting are predominately influenced by Buddhism. Sri Lanka is mainly anagricultural country with rice as the major staple crop. In addition, the countryproduces various plantation crops, including tea, rubber, coconut, cocoa andspices, for export markets. It is also a major exporter of precious andsemiprecious gems. The GDP of Sri Lanka is over $50 billion (1999 estimate) ofwhich 21% is from the agricultural sector, 19% is from the industrial sector, and60% is from the service sector.

Sri Lanka is endowed with an abundance of tourism resources ofconsiderable diversity, including beaches along its 1585 km coastline, natural/ecological and wildlife attractions, indigenous culture, Buddhist heritage, andremnants left by Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and British seafarers. Since itsindependence in 1948, Sri Lanka has enjoyed a growing number of visitors andsustained growth in the tourism industry. However, tourism activities declineddramatically in the mid-1980s due to ethnic unrest and violence between the



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Tamils and the Sinhalese. Today, tourists still remain advised to stay away fromthe northern third of Sri Lanka, the eastern coast, and the far southeast. In the1990s, the government of Sri Lanka took initiatives to revive the tourism sector,including the introduction of the Tourism Master Plan. Attractive incentives wereprovided for foreign investors in tourism sector development. Since then, tourist

arrivals have been on the rise. In 1998, foreign exchange earnings from tourismwere US$231 million, a 6.8% increase over the previous year (Sri Lanka TourismBoard, 2001). Today, tourism is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner in thecountry.

Employing over 1.2% percent of the 6.6 million labor force, The Sri Lankangovernment has identified tourism as one of the five priority economic sectorsand granted a range of concessions and incentives for development andpromotion of tourism. The Sri Lanka Tourist Board, under the Ministry of Tourism,is the legal body responsible for tourism in Sri Lanka.

1. Tourist Attractions in Sri Lanka

Endowed with a unique mixture of golden beaches, abundant wildlife, andrich cultural heritage, Sri Lanka is one of the most popular tourist destinations inthe region. According to the World Tourism Organization, Sri Lanka has theadvantage of having 49 sites classified as unique attractions, 91 as rareattractions, and 7 world heritage sites, and 6 of the 300 ancient monuments inthe world. Nonetheless, except the well-established beach destinations along thesouth-western coast, tourism resources in Sri Lanka are relatively underexploited. The following highlights some of the popular tourist destinations in SriLanka.

National Parks and Wildlife Reserves

Despite its relatively small size, Sri Lankapossesses a high level of biodiversity due to itswide range of topographic and climatic variation.Sri Lanka is known as one of the 25 biodiversityhotspots in the world as identified byConservation International. The country hasabundant bird life with 251 species resident andno less than 21 indigenous to the island. Topreserve displaced young elephants, an elephantorphanage has been set up by the Department of National Zoological Gardens atPinnawela, 13 km from the main Colombo-Kandy road at Kegalle Town. Withover 60 elephants in captivity, the Pinnawala elephant orphanage is reported thelargest captive herd in the world. Since the late 1930s, various areas totalingapproximately 4660 km2 have been designated as National Parks (7% of theisland) and an additional 3270 km2 as sanctuaries, reserves, and protected



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areas (5% of the island). Many of the National Parks and wildlife reserves arenow popular tourist attractions. The Yala National Park, located in thesoutheastern corner of the island, and the Gal Oya National Park are popular forviewing large wild elephants and undertaking organized safaris. The UdaWalawe National Park, located in southeast of Colombo, supports large herds of

wild animals such as spotted deer, sambhur, and wild boar. It also acts as thecatchments for the Uda Walawe Reservoir in the dry zone. The Horton PlainsNational Park, located in the hill country, is Sri Lankas highest and most isolatedplateau and serves as the habitat for the endemic purple monkey and sambhur(a member of the cat family). The Horton Plains National Park is famous for theprecipice known as the Worlds End a cliff with a sheer drop of 1050 m. TheBundala National Park is the latest addition; it provides habitats for all species ofwater birds resident in the country as well as the annual influx of migrant birdsfrom August to April.

Cultural Triangle

Sri Lanka has inherited numerousmagnificent, century-old monuments andcultural relics in a number of ancient cities.Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa areknown as the points of the Cultural Triangle ofSri Lanka, where five of Sri Lankas seven worldheritage sites are located. (The seven WorldHeritage Sites in Sri Lanka are: the ancientcities of Anuradapura, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Kandy; the walled,colonial city of Galle; and the Sinharaja Primeval Rain Forest). Within the

triangle, Sigiriya is known as the cultural tourism base in this area. The mostimportant archaeological and cultural site in Sigiriya is the spectacular rockfortress built in the 5th century AD by King Kasyapa to fend off a feared invasion.Situated atop a 200 m high rock, the fortress houses famous frescoes (rockpaintings) on its gallery wall, which is considered one of the finest ancient artexamples in the world. Other highlights of cultural tours in this area include theBuddhist cave temples dating to the 1st century AD and a gigantic recumbentimage of the Buddha carved out of rock in the town of Dambulla; the largestmanmade reservoirs, Parakrama Samudra, and the colossal Buddha imagescarved on a granite boulder in the medieval capital of Polonnaurwa; the sacredBo Tree in Anuradhapura, and an elephant reserve in Habarana.



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Hill Country

Kandy, known as Sri Lankas hill capital,is the second most visited place in Sri Lanka(next to Colombo). The focal point of the town is

the golden roofed Dalada Maligawa (Temple ofthe Tooth), a temple which houses Sri Lankasmost important religious relic, the sacred toothof Buddha. The Esala Perahera celebrations area yearly highlight when a replica of the shrine iscarried in a procession accompanied bydancers, drummers, and over 100 splendidly clothed and decorated elephants.Another popular tourist destination is Nuwara Eliya, a small town set in the heartof the tea country. Known as Little England, Nuwara Eliya was developed bythe British, and is famous for beautiful parks, well-kept lawns with hedges, QueenAnne- and Georgian-style homes, an Anglican Church, and a golf course.

The mountain ranges of the otherwise beach country are also a sightworth a look. The hill country in Sri Lanka comprises a range of mountain rangesand can be referred to as Hills Beyond Hills. A few important of thesemountain ranges are Samanala Kandha, Haputale, Nakalse and Piduruthalagala.The plateaus of the hills beyond hills in Sri Lanka are located at a height whichranges from 300 meters to 1500 meters. The Piduruthalgala Mountain is thetallest mountain in the country. It is approximately 2525 meters in height. Thenext tallest mountain is Kirigal Potha approximately 2395 meters in height.Experience the joys of mountain watching in the otherwise beach country. Themountains have their own charm and provide views which are engrossing as well

as majestic. While in the beautiful naturally endowed country look out for theamazing sights that the hills beyond hills provide.

Ecotourism in Sri Lanka

For the past years, a majority of Sri Lankas tourism development planshave been targeted primarily at luxury tourism and beach holiday attractions.Some areas in the coastal regions have already exceeded their social andphysical carrying capacity (Saleem, 1996: 60). Increasingly, ecotourism andother special interest tourism in Sri Lanka are considered as niche travelproducts yet to reach their growth potential. Promotion of natural tourism and

cultural tourism in the interior is perceived as a sustainable alternative foreconomic development, especially in poor rural communities. Meanwhile,ecotourism, the fastest growing segment in the tourism sector, has beenpromoted as a means to divert tourists from the sun and beach holidayattractions to other natural/cultural attractions. A National Ecotourism Policy Planis being formulated to promote Sri Lanka as a unique ecotourism destination. Inaddition, the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), a research agency, has presented acomprehensive plan for promotion and management of nature tourism in Sri



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Lanka. To lift the profile of ecotourism, the Ministry of Tourism declared year2000 as the Year of Ecotourism. The 13th Pacific Asia Travel AssociationEcotourism Conference and Travel Mart was held in Colombo in February 2001and provided the country tremendous exposure as an ecotourism destination. Inaddition to ecotourism, the Sri Lankan tourism industry is keen to promote other

special interest tourism, such as Ayurveda health packages(I.e. courses of traditional herbal massage therapy designed to rejuvenate anddetoxify bodies), exotic weddings, and adventure activities (e.g. trekking, para-gliding, bird watching and archaeological tours). A number of small tourismoperators have been established to promote nature tourism off-the-beaten-trackin Sri Lanka. The Woodlands Network is a small tourism operator based in thehill station of Bandarawela about 180 km from Colombo. It is a self-helporganization comprised of six women who are dedicated to promoting naturetourism in Uva Province in the central highlands and in the southern lowlands ofSri Lanka. The Woodlands Network aims at promoting socially responsibletourism that is based on the local traditional forest culture, and hence minimizes

the negative social and cultural effects of tourism development. Individual touristsand small groups are accommodated by local people or in small lodges, anexcellent way to promote people-to-people contact and to induce greaterappreciation of the local culture. Woodlands tours offer a variety of activities,including nature walks, excursions to tea estates and culture/religious sites, trainrides through the mountains, and culinary lessons using indigenous food andgastronomy (i.e. vegetables, spices and tea). Since its establishment in 1994, theWoodlands Network has attracted an increasing number of foreign independenttourists (mostly from Germany) who prefer to learn about the customs, foodhabits, culture, environment and history of the countries they visit. TheWoodlands effort has won international awards in the promotion of naturetourism.

Aquatic Life in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has as many as 103 rivers and a number of cascading waterfalls whichprovide ground for all major groups of vertebrates to flourish. The Aquatic life inSri Lanka is surrounded by sea on all sides. The Aquatic life in this part of theworld is blessed to be amongst thundering waterfalls and rivers meanderingbetween the bosky banks. In Sri Lanka it is estimated that there are over 500varieties of aquatic life. The amphibians and reptiles can be said to be of the

highest number of endemic species. There are almost 107 species which are tobe found in the island and a majority of them have found a safe haven in themarshes and rivers. The marine turtles are about eight in species. Out of themabout five can be spotted in the sandy beaches in the southwestern andsoutheastern parts of the island. The aquatic life in Sri Lanka is assuming suchpopularity that today there are sea expeditions to watch dolphins and whales.



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2. Tourist Activities in Sri Lanka

Paragliding in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has always been an attractive

destination for the international traveler. Inrecent times, with the increasing popularity ofparagliding all over the world, paragliding in SriLanka is also touching greater heights. Thelatest aero sport has started to leave its markon the landscape of the beach nation and hasadded another feather to its cap. Though thesport has been in vogue since the 1940s it has recently started to make its markin the island nation especially to cater to the demands of the internationaltourists. The rapid progress that the sport is making in the island nation istestimony to the fact that the international tourist is comfortable with the

paragliding opportunities and facilities offered here. Paragliding in Sri Lanka istoday a convenient sport and provides sheer fun to the adventurers. Anotherprobable reason for its soaring popularity is the safety attached to it. It is a safemedium of soaring in the air. Moreover, the physical features and the climaticconditions in the nation are exceptionally conducive to flying all round the year.

Rock Climbing in Sri Lanka

Rock climbing in Sri Lanka is a relativelynew activity in the island nation but provides aplethora of new opportunities to be part of new

discoveries and adventure. Rock climbing inSri Lanka is not restricted to only the seriousclimbers but even the less serious climbershave an opportunity to trek along someexciting routes which have been developed.One such route includes the rock face of Sri Lankas highest waterfallBabarakanda. The more professional adventurists and climbers can also be partof discovery missions where they can indulge in some adventure and funexploring as part of a team. At the Babarkanda waterfall one will find at themoment there are two climbing paths. One is for professional and the other twoare for beginners. The beautiful waterfall is exquisite with a height of 790 feet.

The enjoyment and satisfaction that one achieves from rock climbingmountaineering activities in Sri Lanka is something which cannot be described bywords. You have to hone your skills and levels of fitness to truly enjoy thismajestic sport adventure known as Rock Climbing in Sri Lanka.



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White Water Rafting in Sri Lanka

The adventure traveler and tourist roundthe world will surely love a trip to the islandcountry of Sri Lanka which provides an

abundance of action-packed adventure. Theaction-packed adventure on the water is anexperience which is worth a try in the numerousrapids found in Sri Lanka. White water rafting inSri Lanka is an activity full of fun and lookedforward to by the first-timers as well as theexperts. There is a wide range and grading of rapids on some of Sri Lankasmost turbulent waters such as the Kelani River. To the southwest of Kandy is asmall hill country called Kitulgala which is an ideal base from where many whitewater rafting tours take place. White water rafting tours are arranged for 1 hour tohalf day and can also include lunch. The boulder Stream Rivers of Sri Lanka

provide just the ideal setting for white water rafting. One will find that this one ofthe best ways to see the eye-catching environment that this region has to offer.Today in Sri Lanka, white water rafting is assuming a very popular and excitingrole as a safe adventure option.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a health system that has beenpracticed in Sri Lanka and India for ages. Itrelies solely on natural medicine. Ayurvedahas helped even in cases that seemed

hopeless where western medicine has failed.It does not give the patient local treatment ofindividual organs, but treats him as a whole.The Ayurvedic remedies act on the total body,strengthen the power of resistance andpromote healing. Ayurveda is conducive to your health, provides you with newvital energy prevents and corrects the ageing process. An Ayurveda treatmenthelps combat chronic illnesses and at the same time frees you frompsychological burdens. Ayurveda among other things provides swift relief incases of rheumatic diseases such as arthritis (signs of over- strain in spine and

joints), arthritis, muscle tenseness, restriction of movement, disturbances of the

vegetative nervous system such as disturbed sleep, nervousness, exhaustion,tiredness, excitability or irritability, migraine and other forms of headache, heartailments connected to nervousness, high blood pressure, depression, chronicinflammation such as para nasal sinus inflammation, bronchitis, inflammation ofthe bladder, susceptibility to colds, skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, skinallergy, asthma, stomach or intestinal disorders, overweight or nicotine misuse.Ayurveda is recommended to all those seeking inward balance, a long andhealthy life and to all those who like to experience the fullness of life.



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Conclusion

Sri Lanka has a long-standing reputation as a popular sun, sand, and

sea holiday destination. Tourism development activities in the coastal areas,such as Hikkaduwa, Benthara, Negombo and Rekawa Lagoon, have contributedto increasing degradation of valuable coastal habitats and natural settings. Theinflux of visitors and uncontrolled growth accompanied by mass tourismdevelopment has also generated a number of negative economic, social andenvironmental effects on the host communities. From an economic perspective,mass tourism tends to grow at the expense of, or the total replacement of,traditional economic activities such as fishing and farming. Local communitiestherefore become dependent on capricious tourist dollars. Development of masstourism and luxury tourism also have common ramifications such as socialpolarization, inflation of property prices, increased cost of living, and even

Deculturation. Furthermore, increasing tourism activities causes congestedtraffic, increased environmental pollution, and unsightly development. Sri Lankais in need of alternative development options to promote a sustainable tourismindustry. Integrated with conservation planning and management, ecotourismand other special interest tourism can be highly profitable niche markets thatprevent leakage of economic benefits while enhancing the quality of life of thelocal people with minimal negative social and environmental impacts. With itsextensive nature reserve networks and diverse culture heritage, Sri Lanka hasgreat potential to create new value-added tourist products that cater to up marketeco tourists. However, ecotourism is not a panacea. Common pitfalls ofecotourism, such as over exploitation of wilderness areas and green-washing,

need to be avoided to prevent uncontrolled ecotourism turning into mass tourism.Careful planning and managing are particularly essential in promoting tourismdevelopment in cultural/archaeological sites and ecologically sensitive areas. Tofoster a sustainable tourism industry, Sri Lanka is faced with numerouschallenges. The following highlights some of the impending tasks required tostrengthen Sri Lankas tourism industry

(i) Formulate comprehensive policies and criteria for tourismdevelopment in and adjacent to coastal areas, heritage sites,ecologically sensitive areas, and National Parks

(ii) Specify tourism objectives and alternative strategies the currentmass-tourism oriented marketing strategy needs to be revamped toattract eco tourists who prefer specialized services and gain a life-enriching experience

(iii) Improve the existing transportation system for dispersing tourismactivities to a greater geographical region



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